Thousands turn out for Gay Pride parades

The Government has been urged to set a date for next year's planned referendum on marriage equality.

The call came during the annual Pride parade which took place in Dublin city centre.

Tens of thousands turned out for the colourful event celebrating lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people in Ireland.

Today's event comes 40 years after the first Irish Gay Pride Day, when Irish LGBT people demonstrated outside the Department of Justice over anti-gay laws.

The Grand Marshall of today's parade was Amnesty Ireland's Colm O'Gorman who called for solidarity with the millions of Gay, Lesbian, Bi-Sexual and Trans people still living in shame and fear around the world.

Speaking after the parade, Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams said it is important to continue making progress towards achieving equality for the LGBT community.